Monitoring the right of access to social security and appropriate social assistance IN South Africa

 
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Monitoring the right of access to social security and appropriate social assistance IN South Africa
Working Paper 14
              September 2017

              Margaret Sagan

              Monitoring the right of
              access to social security
              and appropriate social
              assistance IN South Africa
              An analysis of the policy effort, resource allocation and
              expenditure and enjoyment of the right to social security

Monitoring the Progressive Realisation
of Socio-Economic Rights Project

ISBN 978-0-620-77429-1
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
BY THE SOCIO-
ECONOMIC RIGHTS
MONITORING TOOL
Available at
www.spii.org.za

                     Zukiswa Kota ‘Realising the right to a healthy environment: an analysis of the policy efforts, budgeting
                     and enjoyment of the right to a healthy environment in South Africa’ (2016) Studies in Poverty and
                     Inequality Institute, Working Paper 13.

                     Matshidiso Motsoeneng ‘Monitoring and Evaluating the Progressive Realisation of the Right to Water
                     and Sanitation in South Africa’ (2016) Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute, Working Paper 12.

                     McLaren, D, Moyo, B and Jeffery, J ‘The right to food in South Africa: An analysis of the content, policy
                     effort, resource allocation and enjoyment of the constitutional right to food’ (2015) Studies in
                     Poverty and Inequality Institute, Working Paper 11.

                     Franklin, S and McLaren, D ‘Realising the Right to Basic Education: An analysis of the content, policy
                     effort, resource allocation and enjoyment of the constitutional right to a basic education (2015)
                     Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute, Working Paper 10.

                     Hannah Dawson & Daniel McLaren ‘A Framework for Monitoring and Evaluating the Progressive
                     Realisation of Socio-Economic Rights in South Africa’ (2015) Studies in Poverty and Inequality
                     Institute.

                     Hannah Dawson ‘Public participation and citizen-based monitoring in realising socio-economic
                     rights’ (2014) Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute, Policy Brief 7.

                     Hannah Dawson & Daniel McLaren ‘Monitoring the right of access to adequate housing in South
                     Africa’ (2014) Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute, Working Paper 8.

                     Khetho Lomahoza ‘Monitoring the right to health care in South Africa’ (2013) Studies in Poverty and
                     Inequality Institute, Policy Brief 2.

                     Hannah Dawson ‘Monitoring the right to social security in South Africa’ (2013) Studies in Poverty
                     and Inequality Institute, Policy Brief 1.

                     Hannah Dawson, Khetho Lomahoza & Tshego Monnana ‘The right to social security and primary
                     health care in Zandspruit informal settlement South Africa’ (2013) Studies in Poverty and Inequality
                     Institute.

                     Stephanie Brockerhoff ‘A Review of the Development of Social Security Policy in South Africa’ (2013)
                     Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute, Working Paper 6.

1 Working Paper 14
PREFACE
                     “The right of access to social security, including social assistance,
                     for those unable to support themselves and their dependants is
                     entrenched because as a society we value human beings and want
                     to ensure that people are afforded their basic needs. A society must
                     seek to ensure that the basic necessities of life are accessible to all
                     if it is to be a society in which human dignity, freedom and equality
                     are foundational.”

                     Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, Khosa & Others v Minister of Social
                     Development & Others 2004(6) BCLR 569 (CC); 4 March 2004

                     The Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII) is an independent research think tank that
                     focuses on generating new knowledge, information and analysis in the field of poverty and
                     inequality studies.

                     This working paper has been undertaken as part of the Monitoring the Progressive Realisation
                     of Socio-Economic Rights Project conducted by SPII and authored by Margaret Sagan who was a
                     visiting intern with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), through a combination
                     of policy and budget analysis and statistical indicators. The objective of the project is to provide a
                     comprehensive constitutional and human rights based framework and set of tools to monitor the
                     progressive realisation of socio-economic rights. It is hoped that this project will be a useful tool for
                     policy makers, for those that exercise oversight over the executive, including Parliament and the
                     Chapter Nine institutions and civil society.

                     Please contact Hopolang Selebalo for any questions, queries or requests, including around the data
                     used for the paper, which we are happy to provide – hopolang@spii.org.za.

                     Working Paper 14 - Edited by Isobel Frye.

                     This work is funded by the Foundation for Human Rights whose contribution to this research is
                     gratefully acknowledged.

2 Working Paper 14
Contents
                          LIST OF GRAPHS                                                        4

                          LIST OF TABLES                                                        4

                          ACRONYMS                                                              5

                          CONCLUSION                                                           37

                          BIBLIOGRAPHY                                                         38

             CHAPTER 1: 3 - STEP METHODOLOGY                                                    6

                                                         Step 1: Analyse The Policy Effort      6
                                        Step 2: Assess Resource Allocation & Expenditure        6
                                           Step 3: Evaluate & Monitor Attainment Of Sers        7
                                                             Objective Of Monitoring Tool       7

             CHAPTER 2: UNDERSTANDING THE RIGHT                                                 9

                                              Legal analysis of the right to social security    9
                                                              The constitutional mandate        9
                                                      Compliance with International Law        10
                                                                  Jurisprudential Analysis     11

             CHAPTER 3: THE RIGHT IN PRACTICE                                                  12

                                                                            Policy Analysis    12
                                                            Changes In Grant Distribution      16

                          GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON SOCIAL PROTECTION
             CHAPTER 4: AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE: A BUDGET ANALYSIS.                              18

                                                                   Progressive Realisation     18
                                                                       Non-Discrimination      24
                                                           Maximum Available Resources         26

             CHAPTER 5: INDICATORS OF ACCESS, ADEQUACY & QUALITY.                              30

                                                                        Access Indicators      30
                                                                      Adequacy Indicators      32
                                                                        Quality Indicators     34

                          TOWARDS UNIVERSAL SOCIAL SECURITY: PROPOSALS
             CHAPTER 6: FOR COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM                               35
                           Reforms Supported by DSD and the Inter-Ministerial Committee        35
                                      Governance Reforms, Social Security Administration       37

3 Working Paper 14
LIST OF TABLES:
                      Table 1.    Current Categories And Values Of Non-Contributory Social Grants      14
                                                                                  In South Africa.
                      Table 2.       NIDS, Wave 4, 2014-2015: Income from Social Grants by Total       30
                                                                               Monthly Income
                      Table 3.                     Expenditure and Inflation, 2008/09 to 2015/16.      32
                      Table 4.   Shows the relationship between grant levels and the poverty lines     33
                                                                                       over time.
                      Table 5.                Trigger Events Associated with Poverty Entry and Exit    34

      LIST OF GRAPHS:

                      Graph 1.   Relative Grant Allocations and Poverty Lines in Rands, 2011-2017      18

                      Graph 2.                      Number of Social Grants, 2006/07 to 2015/16        19

                      Graph 3.   Number of South Africans living under the UBPL vs the Percentage      20
                                              of South Africans receiving at least one social grant.

                      Graph 4.    Social Protection as a percentage of national annual consolidated    21
                                                                                        expenditure
                      Graph 5.      Social Grant transfers as a percentage of national consolidated    21
                                                                                        expenditure
                      Graph 6.             Change in number of social grants, 2006/07 to 2015/16       22

                      Graph 7.       Uptake of Older Persons grant among population 60 years and       22
                                                                           above, 1997 – 2016.
                      Graph 8.                                     Real GDP growth, 2006 to 2016.      23

                      Graph 9.                              2014 Beneficiaries by Population Group     24

                     Graph 10.                             Poverty headcount by population group.      25

                     Graph 11.                                           Poverty headcount by Sex.     25

                     Graph 12.                     2015/16 Consolidated Government Expenditure         27

                     Graph 13.                                Unspent Appropriation Funds 2015/6       28

                     Graph 14.            Annual SERs expenditure as a percentage of consolidated      29
                                                                                     expenditure.
                     Graph 15.                              Social protection expenditure, 2016/17     29

4 Working Paper 14
ACRONYMS
                     ASGISA    Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative South Africa
                     ATM       Automated Teller Machine
                     BIG       Basic Income Grant
                     CPS       Cash Paymaster Services
                     CESCR     Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
                     CPI       Consumer Price Index
                     DCS       Department of Correctional Services
                     DSD       Department of Social Development
                     FPL       Food Poverty Line
                     GEAR      Growth, Employment and Redistribution Strategy
                     GEPF      Government Employees Pension Fund
                     ICESCR    International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
                     ICT       Information and Communications Technology
                     IDDT      Inter-Departmental Task Team
                     ILO       International Labour Organization
                     LBPL      Lower-Bound Poverty Line
                     MAC       Ministerial Advisory Committee
                     MAR       Maximum Available Resources
                     MEC       Member of the Executive Council
                     NAWONGO   National Association of Welfare Organisations and
                               Non-Governmental Organisations
                     NDP       National Development Plan 2030
                     NGP       New Growth Plan
                     NEET      Not in Employment, Education, or Training
                     NPO       Non-Profit Organisation
                     NSSF      National Social Security Fund
                     PRASA     Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa
                     R         Rand
                     RAF       Road Accident Fund
                     RDP       Reconstruction and Development Programme
                     RFP       Request for Proposal
                     SAHRC     South African Human Rights Commission
                     SASSA     South African Social Assistance Agency
                     SERs      Socio-Economic Rights
                     SPII      Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute
                     UBPL      Upper-Bound Poverty Line
                     UIF       Unemployment Insurance Fund

5 Working Paper 14
CHAPTER ONE:
3- STEP METHODOLOGY
                      The methodology developed by SPII is based on three distinct steps (see figure below). These steps
                      include an analysis of the policy effort (Step 1) and the allocation and expenditure of resources for
                      specific rights (Step 2). These two steps assist in monitoring and evaluating the attainment of rights
                      (Step 3) on the ground through specific outcome indicators.

                      A summary of the three steps is provided below:

                                 STEP 1:                             STEP 2:                            STEP 3:
                                                              Assess Resource                    Evaluate & Monitor
                              Assess the
                                                                Allocation &                         Attainment
                              Policy Effort
                                                                Expenditure                         of the Right

                             Constiutional and                    Generation of                           Access
                            international treaty              government resources                (physical and economic)
                                obligations                        Allocation &                          Adequacy
                               Content and                         Expenditure                            Quality
                             implementatuon                    Budget cycle process
                          Policy making process
                           Capacity challenges
                            & accountability
                              mechanisms

                      STEP 1: ANALYSE THE POLICY EFFORT

                      The first step of the analysis takes a closer look at the underlying policies and legislation guiding the
                      realisation of SERs. This step firstly assesses whether the actual content of social and economic
                      policies adequately reflects the Constitution and international treaty obligations and international
                      standards that the state has signed or ratified.

                      Secondly, this step evaluates both the content and implementation of existing legislation, policy
                      frameworks and government programmes to assess what gaps (in principle and in practice) exist.
                      This assessment is based on a human rights framework that includes non-discrimination, gender
                      sensitivity, dignity, participation, transparency and progressive realisation.

                      An important component of evaluating the policy effort is an assessment of the policy making
                      process in terms of transparency and public participation in decision-making by relevant civil
                      society organisations and communities specifically affected by the policy under review. Another
                      important dimension is to analyse departmental responsibilities and institutional arrangements to
                      assess the capacity challenges and accountability mechanisms currently in place.

                      STEP 2: ASSESS RESOURCE ALLOCATION & EXPENDITURE

                      The second step assesses the reasonableness of the budgetary priorities in light of the obligations
                      on the state and human right principles and standards. This requires an analysis of firstly, the
                      generation of government revenue.
6 Working Paper 14
Secondly, an analysis of the allocation and expenditure of such resources to reduce disparities,
                     prioritise the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, and progressively realise SERs. This step
                     uses various budget analysis techniques to monitor planned (i.e. budget allocations) and actual
                     resource expenditures at both national and provincial levels and therefore assesses the delivery and
                     implementation of government policy and programmes as they relate to the realisation of rights.

                     Thirdly, an analysis of the budget cycle process from the perspective of human rights principles
                     of participation, non-discrimination, transparency and accountability. An assessment of resource
                     availability cannot be separated from an analysis of institutional arrangements, human resources
                     and local capacity which are necessary for the efficient and effective spending of budgets.

                     STEP 3: EVALUATE & MONITOR ATTAINMENT OF SERS

                     The third step measures the enjoyment of rights by rights holders and therefore monitors and
                     evaluates the state’s obligation to fulfil the realisation of SERs. This step evaluates the state’s
                     performance via the development of statistical indicators that provide a clearer and more specific
                     illustration of SERs enjoyment on the ground over time. The outcome indicators refer to the three
                     dimensions of access (physical and economic), quality and adequacy over time. This requires that
                     quantifiable and replicable indicators (proxies for the different dimensions of SERs) be developed
                     along with agreed benchmarks and targets.

                     The indicators need to be aligned to data that is freely and easily available in annual surveys and
                     data sets, and must be capable of being decomposed (disaggregated) by region, race, gender
                     and age – wherever possible and useful. This allows disparities between, for example, different
                     population groups or geographical regions to be identified, and an assessment of the extent to
                     which progress has been made over time.

                     OBJECTIVE OF MONITORING TOOL

                     The 3-step methodology provides a comprehensive framework from which to monitor and assess
                     progress made to date. The purpose of the tool, however, goes beyond constitutional compliance and
                     aims to achieve specific objectives:

                     •    Clarify and unpack the content of the SERs and the obligations on the state to ensure access
                          to and enjoyment of SERs is continuously broadened.

                     •    Determine the extent to which organs of the state have respected, protected, promoted and
                          fulfilled their obligations. This involves identifying achievements, deprivations, disparities, and
                          regression to illuminate both causation and accountability in terms of policies, resources
                          spent, implementation and institutional capacity.

                     •    Provide evidence for advocacy initiatives and legal interventions, and make recommendations
                          that will ensure the protection, development and universal enjoyment of SERs.

                     By applying the 3-step methodology, this paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the status of
                     the right to adequate social security some twenty three years into South Africa’s democracy. The
                     paper begins by unpacking the content of the right to adequate social security and then provides
                     both a summary of the key shifts in policy and legislation since 1994 and a critical analysis of their
                     contents, implementation and impact.

                     Secondly, the paper assesses the allocations and spending performance of the Department of
                     Social Development to interrogate the adequacy, efficiency and effectiveness of government’s
                     budgeting and expenditure for the right to social security.
7 Working Paper 14
Finally, the paper discusses the process of developing performance and impact indicators for
                     the right to social security that can be tracked and monitored over time. This allows for a clearer
                     illustration of the enjoyment or lack thereof of the right to adequate social security and provides
                     evidence to evaluate the state against its obligations and to make recommendations to broaden
                     access to social security, including though the current NEDLAC negotiation process.

                     By combining the policy and budget analysis with evidence from indicators, the final section of the
                     paper provides an overall analysis of the status of social security that feeds into recommendations
                     which aim to ensure the rectification of gaps and retrogression as well as enhanced protection and
                     accelerated fulfilment of the right of access to adequate appropriate social security.

                     This report will examine the implementation of the right to social security and appropriate social
                     assistance in South Africa. It will also present current proposals towards comprehensive social
                     security reform, which address some of the gaps in the implementation of this right. The objective of
                     the research is to develop a measure of progressive realisation over time, towards the achievement
                     the full and universal enjoyment of the right to social security and appropriate social assistance by
                     all people in South Africa.

                     The report drew on desktop research along with interviews with social security stakeholders from
                     academia, the Department of Social Development, and the National Treasury.

8 Working Paper 14
CHAPTER TWO:
UNDERSTANDING THE
RIGHT
                     Social security is one of the SERs provided in                                 dramatically reduce levels of inequality if it is
                     South Africa, along with the right to housing,                                 to “heal the divisions of the past and establish
                     health care, food, and water.1 In accordance with                              a society based on democratic values, social
                     the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa                               justice and fundamental rights” as envisioned
                     and with international law, SERs are justiciable                               in the Constitution.5
                     in South Africa. When SERs are violated, the
                     state may be petitioned in court and ordered to                                THE CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE
                     provide a remedy. The Constitutional Court has
                     been largely supportive of SERs, with 80% of                                   The right to social security is enshrined in the
                     rulings in favour of the applicants and asserting                              Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,
                     the state’s obligations to progressively realise                               1996. Section 7(2) of the Constitution obliges
                     SERs.2 Progressive realisation means that the                                  the state to “respect, protect, promote, and
                     state is obliged to use its available resources to                             fulfil the rights of the Bill of Rights”.6 Section 27
                     over time realise the right of access universally                              of the Constitution establishes that: “Everyone
                     to all in South Africa, through “laws and policies                             has the right to have access to…(c) social
                     that aim to achieve incremental improvements                                   security, including, if they are unable to support
                     in universal access”. 3                                                        themselves and their dependents, appropriate
                                                                                                    social assistance.” Further “(2) The state must
                     While the state has judiciable obligations                                     take reasonable legislative and other measures,
                     towards SERs, there is often a tension among                                   within its available resources, to achieve the
                     stakeholders about how to best pay for and                                     progressive realisation of each of these rights.”7
                     sustainably implement SERs. Budget analysis
                     can be used to measure SERs provision over                                     South Africa’s “justiciable Bill of Rights” is
                     time, giving stakeholders data that can be used                                recognised for its commitment to economic
                     to hold the state accountable to progressive                                   and social rights.8 These rights are a vehicle for
                     realisation, and to improve policy.                                            “transformative constitutionalism”, which seeks
                                                                                                    to induce “large-scale social change through
                     LEGAL ANALYSIS OF THE RIGHT TO SOCIAL                                          non-violent political processes ground in law”.9
                     SECURITY                                                                       However, despite the progressive nature
                                                                                                    of South Africa’s Constitution, South Africa
                     Social security is a human right, well expressed                               endures worsening levels of inequality. The Gini
                     in Section 27(1)(c) of the Constitution of the                                 coefficient is used to measure the distribution
                     Republic of South Africa and in international                                  of household income and consumption, on a
                     human rights law, particularly the International                               scale of 0 (completely equal distribution) to 1
                     Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.                               (completely inequal distribution).10 In the 2017
                                                                                                    Stats SA Poverty Trends report, South Africa’s
                     Social security is globally recognized as an                                   2015 Gini coefficient was measured at .68
                     effective mechanism of redistributive justice                                  (income per capita) and .64 (expenditure per
                     in the face of economic and social exclusion.                                  capita). This is a negligible improvement to the
                     The International Labour Organisation (ILO)                                    2011 Gini coefficient, which was .69 (income
                     purports that “effective national social security                              per capita) and .65 (expenditure per capita).11
                     systems are recognised as powerful tools to
                     provide income security, to prevent and reduce                                 This places South Africa at the top of the World
                     poverty and inequality and to promote social                                   Bank Gini index, as the most unequal country in
                     inclusion and dignity”4. South Africa must                                     the world.12

FOOTNOTES:
                     1
                       The Republic of South Africa. (1996). Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Sections 26 and 27.
                     2
                       Jackie Dugard. (2017). Table of Socio-Economic Rights Cases of the South African Constitutional Court 1995-2017.
                     3
                       Ariranga Pillay, 16 May 2012, CESCR/48th/SP/MAB/SW; additionally UN General Assembly, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
                     Rights, 16 December 1966, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 993, p. 3, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b36c0.html. Article 2, Section 1.
                     4
                       ILO, 2012, Social Protection floors for social justice and a fair globalisation, Report IV (I), ILO 101st Session, p. 5
                     www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_160210.pdf
                     5
                       The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, p. 1.
                     6
                       Ibid., Section 7 (2)
                     7
                       Ibid., Section 27.
                     8
                       Karl E Klare (1998) Legal Culture and Transformative Constitutionalism, South African Journal on Human Rights, 14:1, p. 147.
                     9
                       Ibid., p. 150.
                     10
                        Statistics South Africa. (2017). Poverty Trends in South Africa, p. 22.
                     11
                        Ibid., p. 14.
                     12
                        The World Bank, World Development Indicators: Distribution of income or consumption. http://wdi.worldbank.org/table/1.3

9 Working Paper 14
Further, poverty levels rose in South Africa from                          ILO advancement of this concept, particularly
                      2011-2015. 55.5% of South Africans, or over                                through the efforts of Ebrahim Patel, Minister of
                      30.4 million people, were poor in 2015, living                             Economic Development.18 The ILO affirms that
                      on R992 or less per month.13 Social assistance                             social security is a human right, and recommends
                      is a form of government transfer, which                                    that national social protection floors provide
                      redistributes money raised from taxpayers                                  all in need with both basic income security and
                      to people with low or nonexistent incomes. It                              access to essential social services, especially
                      is a key tool for South Africa to meaningfully                             healthcare.19 The World Bank also endorses this
                      lower its Gini coefficient while addressing the                            approach, noting that “the biggest shift in the
                      survivalist needs of beneficiaries.                                        nature of social safety net programs over the last
                                                                                                 half-decade is towards building better-integrated
                      COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW                                          social protection systems that weave together
                                                                                                 the often disparate and fragmented social safety
                      Section 39 of the Bill of Rights states that when                          net programs, as well as those relating to social
                      interpreting the Bill of Rights, a court, tribunal, or                     insurance and labour markets.”20
                      forum must consider international law. In April
                                                                                                 In a 2012 letter by chairperson Ariranga Pillay,
                      2015, South Africa ratified the International
                                                                                                 the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural
                      Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
                                                                                                 Rights (CESCR) of the United Nations endorses
                      Rights (ICESCR), which affirms the right to social
                                                                                                 the “social protection floor” concept as the
                      security in Article 9.14 In Article 2.1, the ICESCR
                                                                                                 “minimum core” which should be used by state
                      obliges a state party to “take steps, individually
                                                                                                 parties to determine whether SERs, including
                      and through international assistance and co-
                                                                                                 the right to social security, are being met. 21
                      operation, especially economic and technical, to
                                                                                                 As noted by SERs budget analyst Aoife Nolan,
                      the maximum of its available resources, with a                             this letter provides useful guidance towards
                      view to achieving progressively the full realization                       state responsibilities, “particularly in relation
                      of the rights recognized in the present Covenant                           to austerity measures”.22 To discourage the
                      by all appropriate means, including particularly                           retrogression of SERs, it implores state parties to
                      the adoption of legislative measures”.15                                   consider the impact of economic and budgetary
                                                                                                 policies on “disadvantaged and marginalized
                      The most comprehensive set of international
                                                                                                 individuals and groups”.23 Policy makers in states
                      instruments on the right to social security are
                                                                                                 with low economic growth or high deficits often
                      the International Labour Organization (ILO)
                                                                                                 contemplate reducing spending on entitlement
                      conventions. Minimum Standards for Social                                  programs: this debate is familiar in South Africa.
                      Security are set forward in Convention 102 of
                      1952, which has not been ratified by South                                 The CESCR directs that any retrogressive budget
                      Africa. However, despite not having ratified                               cuts or other policies that impact SERs must be
                      C102, South African dialogues on labour                                    temporary, “necessary and proportionate”, non-
                      standards including social security align with                             discriminatory, counter-balanced by measures
                      the contemporary approach of the ILO. Through                              that mitigate inequality, and assure protection of
                      the National Development Plan 2030, the state                              the minimum core, the social protection floor.24
                      of South Africa has given support to the notion                            Thus, South Africa and other state parties to the
                      of a “social floor”: “a standard of living below                           ICESCR cannot slim their national budgets by
                      which no one should fall”.16 This is in line with                          ignoring the obligation to progressively realise
                      the Social Protection Floor Initiative developed                           the socio-economic rights (SERs) contained in
                      by the ILO.17 South Africa has participated in the                         the Constitution.

FOOTNOTES:
                      13
                         Stats SA. (2017). Poverty Trends in South Africa: An Examination of Absolute Poverty Between 2006 and 2015.
                      14
                         UN General Assembly, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 16 December 1966, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 993,
                      p. 3, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b36c0.html
                      15
                         Ibid., Section 2.1.
                      16
                         National Planning Commission, Department of the Presidency, Republic of South Africa, National Development Plan 2030, p. 355.
                      17
                         Human Rights Council, Social Protection Floors and Economic and Social Rights, A/HRC/28/35, p. 1.
                      18
                         International Labour Organization, 2011, Social Protection Floor for a Fair and Inclusive Globalization, p. v.
                      19
                         International Labour Organization, Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202).
                      20
                         The World Bank, (2014). The State of Social Safety Nets, p. 16
                      21
                         Ariranga Pillay, CESCR chairperson. Letter to all state parties. May 16, 2012, CESCR,48th/SP/MAB/SW.
                      22
                         Aoife Nolan. (2014). “Budget Analysis and Economic and Social Rights”. Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in International Law:
                         Contemporary Issues and Challenges, p. 378.
                      23
                         Ibid.
                      24
                         Ibid.

10 Working Paper 14
South Africa has not yet come to an official consensus on the defined measures of its national social
                                    protection floor. One concrete measure is given in the National Development Plan 2030, which
                                    asserts that “no individual should live below the poverty line of R419 (in 2009 prices.)”. 25 This was
                                    the Lower-Bound Poverty Line in 2009. Poverty lines are adjusted for inflation and benchmarked
                                    to the Income and Expenditure Surveys produced by Stats SA. South Africa measures three poverty
                                    lines: the Food Poverty Line (FPL), which measures the cost of a monthly food basket which meets
                                    the minimum daily calorie requirements; the Lower-Bound Poverty Line (LBPL), and the Upper-
                                    Bound Poverty Line (UBPL). As of April 2017, Stats SA defines the FPL at R 531, the LBPL at R 758,
                                    and the UBPL at R 1,138. 26

                                    JURISPRUDENTIAL ANALYSIS

                                    Jurisprudential analysis will show how South Africa’s legal obligations have been developed and
                                    enforced through the courts.

                                    The Kate decision upheld the award of damages to a disabled woman whose application for social
   THE SUPREME COURT OF
                                    assistance was delayed by 37 months. This decision emphasizes the roles and responsibilities of
  APPEAL OF SOUTH AFRICA
                                    government agencies. Judge of Appeal Nugent states “the realization of the substantive right to social
 The MEC for the Department
                                    assistance is dependent upon lawful and procedurally fair administrative action, and the diligent and prompt
    of Welfare v Nontembiso
                                    performance by the state of its constitutional obligations, the failure to meet those process obligations denies
                Norah Kate 27
                                    to the beneficiary his or her substantive right to social assistance”. 28

                                    The Khosa decision extends the South African right to social security to non-national permanent
           THE SOUTH AFRICAN
                                    residents. This is particularly important because article 2.3 of the ICESCR leaves it up to developing
     CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
                                    countries to “determine to what extent they would guarantee the economic rights recognized in the
 ON THE INCLUSIVITY OF THE
                                    present Covenant to non-nationals”.30 The applicants in this 2004 case challenged provisions of the
   RIGHT TO SOCIAL SECURITY
                                    Social Assistance Act 59 of 1992 and the Welfare Laws Amendment Act 106 of 1997 which reserved
  Khosa & Others v the Minister
                                    social grants for South African citizens.31 The applicants submitted that the exclusion of non-citizens
of Social Development & Others 29
                                    from benefiting from social grants was inconsistent with Section 27 of the Constitution.

                                    When interpreting whether the rights contained                           rights of ‘all people in our country’ and in the
                                    in section 27(1)(c) are confined to citizens only or                     absence of any indication that the section
                                    extends to a broader class of persons including                          27(1) right is to be restricted to citizens as in
                                    non-nationals, the court stated that it would                            other provisions in the Bill of Rights, the word
                                    adopt a purposive approach to interpreting the                           ‘everyone in this section cannot be construed as
                                    word “everyone”. Noting that the Grootboom                               referring only to ‘citizens’.” 33
                                    decision affirmed the intersectionality of human
                                    rights, the court went on to state that denying                          The Court took a rights-based approach
                                    access to social security to non-nations would                           affirming the centrality of SERs: “A society
                                    violate the equality rights provided in section                          must seek to ensure that the basic necessities
                                    9 of the Constitution.32 The court noted that                            of life are accessible to all if it is to be a
                                    where rights in the Bill of Rights are restricted to                     society in which human dignity, freedom and
                                    citizens, such as the political rights contained in                      equality are foundational.” 34 The Constitutional
                                    Section 19, this is stated explicitly. It concluded                      Court’s judgement in Khosa prioritizes non-
                                    that “given that the Constitution expressly                              discrimination and the universality of the right
                                    provides that the Bill of Rights enshrines the                           to social security.

FOOTNOTES:
                                    25
                                       Republic of South Africa, National Planning Commission. National Development Plan 2030, p. 363.
                                    26
                                       Werner Ruch, Stats SA. (2017). National Poverty Lines for South Africa. Email communication.
                                    27
                                       Member of the Executive Council: Welfare v Kate (2006) SCA 46 (RSA).
                                    28
                                       Ibid., p. 12.
                                    29
                                       2004 (6) SA 505 (CC).
                                    30
                                       UN General Assembly, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 16 December 1966, United Nations,
                                       Treaty Series, vol. 993, p. 3, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b36c0.html
                                    32
                                       2004 (6) SA 505 (CC), p. 33.
                                    33
                                       Ibid., para 51.
                                    34
                                       Ibid., para 52.

11 Working Paper 14
CHAPTER THREE:
THE RIGHT IN PRACTICE
                        A) POLICY ANALYSIS.                                                        year the UIF makes a net surplus. In 2016, the
                                                                                                   UIF had a net surplus of R10,686,137 and an
                        SOCIAL SECURITY: contributory and                              non-        accumulated surplus of R98,503,433.37 As of
                        contributory pillars of the current system                                 2017, 27.7% of South Africans are unemployed,
                                                                                                   approximately 6.18 million people.38 Many of
                        It is not possible to understand social assistance                         these people do not qualify for the UIF, because
                        without understanding the broader landscape                                the UIF only covers people who have made
                        of social security in South Africa. Social security                        contributions. It may make sense to rethink this
                        in South Africa relies on a three-pillar system:                           limitation in order to address the crisis of chronic
                        public contributory funds; private contributory                            unemployment in South Africa. The UIF has
                        pension and insurance funds; and non-                                      expanded in access over time. The UIF Act was
                        contributory public social assistance. All three                           amended in 2003 to cover domestic workers
                        pillars must function in order to provide social                           and seasonal workers.39 In 2017 UIF benefits
                        protection that works for all South Africans.                              were expanded to a year, from unemployment
                        Public contributory social insurance includes                              or childbirth, and a dependent benefit was
                        three major statutory funds. There are also                                expanded in case of death.
                        public contributory funds for state employees.
                        The system is fragmented, with no nation-wide                              Compensation Funds cover claims for illness,
                        contributory social security fund for all citizens.                        injury, or death at the workplace. Compensation
                                                                                                   Funds contributions are made by both
                        PUBLIC SOCIAL INSURANCE                                                    employer and employee. In 2015/16, the
                                                                                                   Compensation Fund registered 129,123 claims
                        Public contributory social insurance includes                              and adjudicated 135,531 claims, and approved
                        the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), the                                 R960,336,000 for payment.40 It has attempted
                        Compensation for Occupational Illness and                                  to modernize its operations through digitizing
                        Diseases Fund (Compensation Funds), and the                                the claims process. In 2017 35 employees of the
                        Road Accident Fund (RAF). The Unemployment                                 Compensation Fund were suspended for fraud,
                        Insurance Act of 2001, the Compensation for                                paying out false claims that were then collected
                        Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act of 1993,                            by employees for personal enrichment. 41
                        and the Road Accident Fund Act of 1996 are the
                        primary pieces of legislation governing these                              The UIF and the Compensation Fund are
                        funds. The RAF Act was amended in 2001, 2002,                              overseen by the Department of Labour, while
                        and 2005, to cap benefits. The RAF operates at                             the Road Accident Fund is overseen by the
                        a deficit, and there has been an effort to reign in                        Department of Transport. There are three other
                        disproportionate claims that threaten the fund’s                           industry-specific compensation funds: the
                        solvency. 35 The RAF pays benefits when people                             Mines and Works Compensation Fund (overseen
                        are injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents.                          by the Department of Health); the Rand Mutual
                        It is paid for through a fuel levy collected by the                        Association fund for injured miners; and the
                        South African Revenue Service (SARS). 36                                   Federated Employers’ Mutual Assurance fund,
                                                                                                   for injured construction workers.
                        The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)
                        provides benefits to participating full-time and                           PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PENSION FUNDS
                        seasonal workers in case of adoption, childbirth,
                        death, illness, or unemployment. It does not                               Pension and provident funds rely on
                        cover independent contractors or occasional                                contributions by employers and employees
                        workers, and benefits cease when a worker                                  over the course of an employee’s career. These
                        resigns (as opposed to being retrenched). UIF                              funds are the largest collective investors in the
                        contributions are made by both employer and                                South African stock market. Pension funds held
                        employee. Because benefits are capped, every                               approximately R 4 trillion in assets in 2015. 42
FOOTNOTES:
                        35
                           Brockerhoff, Stephanie. (2013). A Review of the Development of Social Security Policy in South Africa. SPII.
                        36
                           Ibid., p. 19.
                        37
                           Department of Labour. (2016). Annual Report for the Unemployment Insurance Fund for the year ended 31 March 2016. P. 90 & p. 91.
                        38
                           Joana Ferreira. (2017). “South Africa Jobless Rate Unchanged at 27.7% in Q2. Trading Economics.
                        39
                           Brockerhoff, Stephanie. (2013). A Review of the Development of Social Security Policy in South Africa. SPII. P. 17.
                        40
                           Department of Labour. (2016). Annual Report of the Compensation Fund 2015/2016, p. 19.
                        41
                           Loyiso Sidimba. 10 May, 2017. “Dozens of employees face arrests for fraud ‘worth millions’ as scandal rocks Compensation Fund.” Sowetan Live.
                        42
                           Financial Services Board, 2015 Annual Report of the Registrar of Pension Funds, p. 11.

12 Working Paper 14
In 2015, there were 5,143 registered                                       In South Africa however, there is no permanent
                      retirement funds in South Africa, of which                                 social assistance available for able bodied
                      2,946 were privately administered, and 2,188                               working age people between 18 and 59 – the
                      underwritten. The remaining funds were the                                 ‘missing middle’ - even though they may
                      Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF),                                  lack resources or access to employment.
                      the Associated Institutions Pension Fund, the                              Historically, under the apartheid government,
                      Temporary Employees Pension Fund, Transnet                                 both contributory and non-contributory social
                      Funds, the Telkom Pension Fund, the Post Office                            security privileged the white minority, as did
                      Retirement Fund. There are also foreign funds                              the country’s labour markets, including through
                      that cover South African resident members,                                 the use of racially determined job reservation.
                      representing .008% of the aggregate assets of                              The Social Assistance Act of 1992 equalized
                      retirement funds in South Africa. 43                                       the monetary value of social assistance grant
                                                                                                 allocations between racial groups.47 Under this
                      The GEPF is the largest single pension fund                                act, social assistance was administered on a
                      in Africa, and covers South African public                                 provincial level, not a national level. This Act
                      employees. It holds R 1.623,465 trillion in                                remains the foundation for the subsequently
                      assets, while privately administered funds hold                            redrafted Social Assistance Act of 2004. This
                      R 1.842,662 trillion in assets, and underwritten                           must be noted, given that the original act
                      funds hold R 469.684 billion in assets.44 The                              was drafted during Apartheid and before the
                      Pension Fund Act, established in 1956 and                                  adoption of the Constitution in which social
                      amended in 2007, governs the provision of                                  assistance was included as a justiciable right.
                      private pension and provident funds in South
                      Africa, while the Government Employees                                     The Social Assistance Act of 2004 and the South
                      Pension Law of 1996, amended in 2003,                                      African Social Assistance Agency (SASSA) Act
                      oversees the GEPF. 45 The Medical Schemes Act                              of 2004 consolidated non-contributory social
                      of 1998 oversees health insurance.                                         assistance. These acts established nation-wide
                                                                                                 social grants through a single agency, housed
                      64% of South African pension funds are defined                             under the Department of Social Development,
                      contribution funds, while 12.8% are defined                                and administered on a national level. Non-
                      benefit, 17.9% are hybrid, and 5.1% are other.                             contributory social assistance is provided by
                      In South Africa, 49.2% are standalone pension                              the Department of Social Development (DSD)
                      funds representing single employers, 25.6% are                             and its sub-agency, the South African Social
                      pension funds with contributions from multiple                             Security Agency (SASSA). Non-contributory
                      employers, 23.1% are provident funds which                                 social assistance encompasses the provision of
                      offer the option of receiving the full amount in                           social services and social grants (cash transfers)
                      a lump sum, 2.6% are industry funds for sector                             to qualifying South African residents. The
                      employers, and 2.6% are other.46                                           eight categories of social grants are provided
                                                                                                 in the table below. Grants are administered
                      NON-CONTRIBUTORY SOCIAL ASSISTANCE                                         by SASSA. SASSA social grants are considered
                      (‘SOCIAL GRANTS’).                                                         unconditional cash transfers, because although
                                                                                                 they are means-tested, receipt is not conditional
                      Non-contributory social assistance provides                                on specific actions, such as attending school or
                      financial support to people who do not have                                enrollment in the labour force.
                      enough resources to provide for themselves.

FOOTNOTES:
                      43
                         Ibid., p. 14.
                      44
                         Ibid., p. 14.
                      45
                         Government Gazette, Vol. 506, Cape Town, 29 August 2007, No. 30240: No. 11 of 2007: Pension Funds Amendment Act, 2007.
                      46
                         Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA). (2016). New Frontiers: Perceptions of and Allocations to Private Equity
                      by Southern African Pension Funds. P. 16-17.
                      47
                         Act 59 of 1992

13 Working Paper 14
THE NON-CONTRIBUTORY SOCIAL GRANTS AVAILABLE TODAY IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE LISTED
                      BELOW.

                           Grant                     Eligibility 48                                                      Maximum Amount
                                                                                                                         as of April 2017 49

   TABLE 1. CURRENT
    CATEGORIES AND                                   Citizen, permanent resident or refugee who does not
    VALUES OF NON-         Older Persons,            live in a state institution. Income below R 73,800 (single)
                                                                                                                         R 1,600
     CONTRIBUTORY          60-74 years               or R 147,600 (married). Assets below R 1,056,000
   SOCIAL GRANTS IN                                  (single) or R 2,112,000 (married).
      SOUTH AFRICA.
                                                     Citizen, permanent resident or refugee who does not
                           Older Persons,            live in a state institution. Income below R 73,800 (single)
                                                                                                                         R 1,620
                           75+ years                 or R 147,600 (married). Assets below R 1,056,000
                                                     (single) or R 2,112,000 (married).

                                                     Citizen or permanent resident who fought in World
                                                     War I, World War II or the Korean War; does not live in
                           War Veterans’             a state institution. Income below R 73,800 (single) or R            R 1,620
                                                     147,600 (married). Assets below R 1,056,000 (single) or
                                                     R 2,112,000 (married).

                                                     Citizen, permanent resident or refugee who has
                                                     submitted a medical assessment of disability and
                           Disability                does not live in a state institution. Income below R                R 1,600
                                                     73,800 (single) or R 147,600 (married). Assets below R
                                                     1,056,000 (single) or R 2,112,000 (married).

                                                     Citizen, permanent resident or refugee; child under
                                                     18 with a medical assessment of permanent severe
                           Care
                                                     disability, who does not live in a state institution. Income        R 1,600
                           Dependency
                                                     below R 192,000 (single) or R 384,200 (married). No
                                                     assets test.

                                                     Citizen, permanent resident, or refugee. No means test,
                           Foster Child                                                                                  R 920
                                                     must provide court order of foster care status.

                                                     Citizen, permanent resident, or refugee. Income below R
                           Child Support                                                                                 R 380
                                                     45,600 (single) or R 91,200 (married). No assets test.

                                                     Recipient of Older Persons Grant, Disability Grant, or
                                                     War Veterans’ Grant, who requires a full-time caretaker,
                           Grant-in-Aid                                                                                  R 380
                                                     and does not receive care in a state-subsidized
                                                     institution. No means test.

                                                     Temporary grant issued for up to six months, after a                R 1,600 adults,
                           Social Relief
                                                     disaster or other hardship. Can be issued in food parcels           R 380 children,
                           of Distress
                                                     or vouchers rather than cash. No means test, must be                for up to 6
                           (SROD)
                                                     unemployed.                                                         months

                      Source: SASSA, You and Your Grants 2016/17, supplemented by call to SASSA at 0800-60-10-11.

FOOTNOTES:
                      48
                           SASSA, You and Your Grants 2016/17, supplemented by call to SASSA at 0800-60-10-11.
                      49
                           Government Gazette, March 31, 2017, DSD No. R. 305, “Increase in Respect of Social Grants”.

14 Working Paper 14
Gradually, since 1992, the number of people                                grant distribution more efficient, but has also
                      who receive social assistance in South Africa                              introduced new types of exploitation into the
                      has grown. Grant allocations have expanded                                 social assistance system.
                      incrementally, while qualifications for the grants
                      have also been liberalized. These incremental                              The Older Persons Grant, the War Veterans’
                      changes have followed civil society mobilization                           Grant, the Disability Grant, and the Care
                      and advocacy. The largest grant by number of                               Dependency Grant all have allocations that are
                      beneficiaries is the Child Support Grant, while                            large enough to place an individual just over
                      the largest by state expenditure is the Older                              the upper-bound poverty line (UBPL), which
                      Persons Grant.50 Since 2008, South African                                 adjusted for inflation stands at R 1,138 in 2017.
                      residents age 60 and over can receive the Older                            However, as will be discussed in greater detail
                      Persons Grant if they qualify by the means test,                           in the budget analysis section of this report, the
                      regardless of gender. Previously, women could                              economic value of these four grants has gone
                      apply at age 60, and men at age 65. This policy                            down by about 5% in the last five years, lowering
                      change followed the legal challenge in Roberts                             the adequacy of the grants. In addition, the grant
                      and Others v Minister of Social Development                                values are often further eroded, as beneficiaries
                      and Others (unreported decision of the                                     must share them with other family members
                      Transvaal Provincial Division, Case Number                                 who are indigent but do not qualify for grants.
                      32838/05). Likewise, the age limit for the Child                           This will be covered below in the section on the
                      Support Grant gradually extended to cover more                             unemployment gap in social assistance.
                      South Africans, moving from age 7 (2001) to
                      age 9 (2003) to age 11 (2004) to age 14 (2005),                            At R 380, the Child Support Grant is 28.44% less
                      and now to age 18 (2010).51 Groups such as                                 than the current Food Poverty Line of R 531.
                      the Basic Income Grant Coalition advocated for                             The Child Support Grant is not an adequate
                      the incremental expansion of the Child Support                             amount of money to feed a hungry adult, let
                      Grant to cover older children, and also following                          alone lift a person out of poverty or meet the
                      the legal challenge of Mahlangu v Minister                                 minimum core of social protection. However,
                      of Social Development and Others Case No.                                  despite its modest size, the Child Support
                      25754/05 (Transvaal Provincial Division).                                  Grant is often recognized as a highly effective
                      Today, the Child Support Grant is the grant                                means of improving child health and education,
                      that the largest number of South Africans have                             particularly during early years. An impact
                      access to, with 11,972,900 people accessing                                assessment of the grant published by UNICEF
                      the grant in 2015/2016.52 The Department of                                found that early take-up of the grant improved
                      Social Development has worked to supplement                                nutrition and raised grade attainment in primary
                      the grant with meaningful services through                                 school by 10.2%, for children whose mothers had
                      its Early Childhood Development centres and                                less than 8 years of schooling.54 Of unconditional
                      programmes, based on policies put in place by                              cash transfer programs worldwide, the Child
                      Cabinet in 2015. 53                                                        Support Grant was found by the World Bank to
                                                                                                 be the fourth largest by scale, covering over 11
                      While the expansion of the Child Support                                   million people or 21% of South Africans in 2014.55
                      Grant laudably extends coverage to a greater
                      share of poor South Africans, it’s important to                            THE ABLE BODIES WORKING AGE GAP IN
                      realise that many poor South Africans still do                             SOCIAL ASSISTANCE—THE ‘MISSING MIDDLE’
                      not have access to grants, and that the current
                      structure of grants into eight categories may                              The social grants administrated by SASSA tend
                      be seen as exclusionary and inadequate. As                                 to cover groups that are not usually expected to
                      will be discussed later in the report, at least                            join the workforce, such as the elderly, minors,
                      25.4% of poor South Africans still have no                                 and the disabled. It does not cover healthy,
                      individual access to social assistance. Quality                            working age adults. The largest gap in social
                      has also wavered, as the introduction of a debit                           assistance coverage is the lack of benefits for
                      card system of grant distribution has made                                 unemployed adults ages 18-59.

FOOTNOTES:
                      50
                         2016 Annual Report, Department of Social Development, p. 50 and p. 52.
                      51
                         Maria Santana. (2008). An Evaluation of the Impact of South Africa’s Child Support Grant on School Attendance. Centro de Estudios Distributivos,
                      Laborales y Sociales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina.
                      52
                         SASSA. (2016). 15/16 Annual Report. Table 1, p. 26.
                      53
                         Ibid., p. 27.
                      54
                         DSD SASSA and UNICEF. (2012), The South African Child Support Grant Impact Assessment, p. 106.
                      55
                         World Bank. (2014). The State of Social Safety Nets, p. 12 and p. 86.

15 Working Paper 14
If adults have never been employed or have only                          80% of the unemployed in South Africa are black,
                      had marginal short-term employment, they do                              or 31.4% of black South Africans, the highest
                      not qualify for the UIF. SROD is occasionally                            unemployment rate by racial group.59 The Q1
                      accessed by unemployed adults for a short-term                           2017 unemployment rates for other racial
                      period of up to 6 months, but this grant is not                          groups are 22.9% (Coloured), 12.9% (Indian/
                      consistently available. Present-day South Africa                         Asian), and 6.6% (White).60
                      has exceptionally high levels of unemployment
                      and poverty. In Q1 2017 the Quarterly Labour                             South Africa has pursued 5 strategic plans
                      Force Survey published by Statistics South                               for economic growth since the transition to
                      Africa found a national unemployment rate of                             democracy in 1994, all of which have included
                      27.7% and an expanded unemployment rate                                  proposals to curb unemployment. These
                      of 36.4%.56 The expanded unemployment rate                               have been Reconstruction and Development
                      includes those that would like to work but are                           Programme in 1994 (RDP), the Growth
                      not actively seeking a job. The highest levels                           Employment and Redistribution Strategy in
                      of unemployment are found among the youth                                1996 (GEAR), the Accelerated and Shared
                      and those without substantive educational                                Growth Initiative in 2006 (ASGISA), the New
                      qualifications. Among youth ages 20-24,                                  Growth Path in 2010 (NGP), and the National
                      49.5% are Not in Employment, Education, or                               Development Plan in 2012 (NDP).61 While South
                      Training (NEET).57 People who did not graduate                           Africa’s national unemployment rate dropped
                      matric are more likely to be unemployed in                               from 27.9% (2004) to 20.7% (2008) under
                      South Africa than people with higher levels of                           ASGISA, it began to climb again after the global
                      educational attainment, with an unemployment                             financial crisis of 2008.62 South Africa’s strategic
                      rate of 33.1%.58 Socio-economic inequality                               plans have not managed to significantly
                      in the country still reflects the pervasive                              reduce persistent structural unemployment,
                      disenfranchisement of black South Africans                               particularly for low-skilled workers.
                      that took place under colonialism and apartheid.

                      B) CHANGES IN GRANT DISTRIBUTION
                      BANK ACCOUNTS AND DIRECT DEBITS

                      The largest and most controversial shift in the provision of social assistance in the last five years
                      has been the migration of grant holder payment systems to the banking sector. This has made grant
                      payment more convenient for grant-holders, but has also subjected grant-holders to predatory
                      behavior. Disagreements about how to move forward since the migration have weakened SASSA
                      as an agency and threaten to disrupt the payment of grants. It has also illuminated risks in turning
                      to private sector vendors to provide public services, along with governance problems within the
                      Department of Social Development, some of which stem from how the SASSA Act was written.

                      The following Constitutional Courts cases all bear on contract process and public accountability:

                                 AllPay and Others v CEO of SASSA and Others
                                 AllPay and Others v CEO of SASSA and Others (No 2)
                                 AllPay and Others v CEO of SASSA and Others [2015]
                                 Black Sash Trust v Minister of Social Development and Others [2017]

                      In 2011, SASSA initiated a process to modernize grant distribution, opening a tender for a private
                      vendor to create a biometric beneficiary identification system, and an electronic debit card payment
                      system for grant distribution. In 2012, Cash Paymaster Services (CPS), a subsidiary of Net1, won
                      the tender. AllPay, a rival bidder, sued SASSA over how the tender was handled.

FOOTNOTES:
                      56
                         StatsSA, 2017, Media Release: Quarterly Labour Force Survey – QLFS Q1:2017.
                      57
                         StatsSA, 2017, Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Q1 2017, p. 11.
                      58
                         Ibid., p. 15.
                      59
                         Ibid., p. 21, p. 24.
                      60
                         Ibid., p. 24-25.
                      61
                         Lorainne Ferreira and Riaan Rossouw. (October 2016). “South Africa’s Economic Policies on Unemployment: A Historical Analysis of Two Decades
                      of Transition”. Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences. 9 (3), p. 818.
                      62
                         Ibid., p. 813.

16 Working Paper 14
The court found in AllPay’s favor and invalidated                           “under a constitutional obligation to ensure
                               the contract. However, when CPS declined to bid                             payment of social grants to grant beneficiaries
                               on a new tender, SASSA continued working with                               from 1 April 2017 until an entity other than CPS
                               CPS, under a suspended order of invalidation, and                           is able to do so”. 66
                               then finally past the dated terms of the original
                               contract. In its decision in the second All Pay                             These decisions point towards the Maximum
                               case (Remedy Judgement), the Constitutional                                 Available Resources (MAR) obligation. If public
                               Court makes it clear that fulfilling obligations                            services that fulfill ESR are outsourced to
                               to rights-bearers must be prioritized, and that                             private companies, this may create a tension
                               private contractors providing public services                               with the MAR obligation, especially in cases
                               must be held to the same accountability as the                              where companies are harvesting profits that
                               state. The Court found SASSA at fault for its                               would not have been accessible otherwise.
                               “irregular conduct” that led to the declaration                             Companies reinvest any surpluses towards
                               of invalidity.63 It deemed that “for the purposes                           their own bottom line, rather than re-investing
                               of the impugned contract”, Cash Paymaster                                   surpluses towards fulfilling rights.
                               Services must be considered an “organ of the
                               state”.64 Thus, CPS had an obligation to continue                           The SASSA Act gives the Minister of Social
                               to deliver public services. This is an example of                           Development authority to terminate the
                               a horizontal application of the Bill of Rights and                          SASSA CEO, and state that SASSA must make
                               prioritizes the obligation to fulfill SERs. Stating                         payment arrangements “with the concurrence
                               that CPS must be subject to “public scrutiny,                               of the Minister” of Social Development.67 The
                               both in its operational and financial aspects”, the                         lack of independent oversight over SASSA,
                               Court ordered CPS to provide audited financial                              and the lack of clear lines between political
                               statements that included information about                                  and administrative authority per the SASSA
                               the profitability of its contract.65 As SASSA did                           Act, contributed to the lack of remedy for the
                               not have measures in place for the payment                                  invalid CPS contract. This is an example of poor
                               of social grants after 1 April 2017, when the                               governance structures risking retrogression
                               original contract with CPS was due to expire,                               of rights that South Africa is constitutionally
                               through the Black Sash case the Constitutional                              obliged to fulfill.
                               Court again affirmed that SASSA and CPS are

                               In contradiction to the general findings of                                 “payment of a legitimate debt”.68 This decision
  THE NET1 CASE: LIMITING
                               the Constitutional Court cases, an important                                counters Department of Social Development
    REGULATION OF GRANT
                               recent case in the High Court limits the state’s                            and civil society efforts to rein in commercial
  HOLDER BANK ACCOUNTS
                               authority to intervene in the banking and                                   activity directed at grant holders. In 2016, the
Net1 Applied Technologies SA
                               service arrangements between grant holders                                  Department of Social Development endeavored
  and Others v CEO of SASSA
                               and private companies. In May 2017, the High                                to ban direct debits outside of funeral policies.
           and Others (2017)
                               Court in Gauteng ruled that there is no merit                               This decision limits the authority of DSD to
                               in the argument that “Grindrod banks accounts                               intervene in transactions made between grant
                               are not bank accounts chosen by the beneficiaries”                          beneficiaries and commercial interests.
                               and states that authorized debits are merely

FOOTNOTES:
                               63
                                  Ibid., [73].
                               64
                                  Ibid., [52].
                               65
                                  Ibid., [65].
                               66
                                  Black Sash Trust v Minister of Social Development and Others (Freedom Under Law NPC intervening) (CCT 48/17) [2017] ZACC 8, p. 4.
                               67
                                  SASSA Act, 2004 (Act No. 9). Ch. 3, Sec 5.4, Ch. 2, Sec 4.2a.
                               68
                                  Net1 Applied Technologies South Africa and Others v Chief Executive Officer of the South African Social Security Agency and Others; Finbond Mutual
                               Bank v Chief Executive Officer of the South African Social Security Agency and Others; Smart Life Insurance Company Limited v Chief Executive Officer
                               of the South African Social Security Agency and Others (43557/16; 46024/16; 46278/16; 47447/16) [2017] ZAGPPHC 150 (9 May 2017)
                                In the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria), Case 43557/16, May 9, 2017, p. 21 and p. 27.

17 Working Paper 14
CHAPTER FOUR:
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
ON SOCIAL PROTECTION
AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE:
A BUDGET ANALYSIS.
                                   Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII) has developed a budget analysis matrix to monitor
                                   whether budgets comply with human rights obligations defined in the ICESCR: progressive
                                   realization, non-discrimination and use of maximum available resources.69 This type of budget
                                   analysis will be applied to social protection below.

                                   A note on data transparency and accessibility: a budget analysis to advance socio-economic rights
                                   depends on clear, publicly available data. The national and provincial budget reviews should be
                                   contextualized with poverty data from Stats SA and department-specific data from DSD, which
                                   bears primary responsibility for social protection. There is not enough data publicly available on
                                   the Social Relief of Distress grant category. Increases to Social Relief are not published along
                                   with the other grants. It would also be useful if SASSA published more disaggregated data on the
                                   demographics of grant recipients.

                                   PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION

                                   Measures that show the state’s progress over time towards achieving the full realization of socio-
                                   economic rights.

                                   1. Has Social Protection spending kept up with CPI (inflation changes) including food inflation? (Adequacy)
                                                                                                                                               Disability              Care Dependency
                                            Old Age (60-74)                 Old Age (75+)                    War Vets
  Graph 1. Relative Grant Allocations and Poverty Lines in Rands, 2011 – 2017

                                  2500

                                  2250

                                  2000

                                  1750

                                  1500
                          RANDS

                                  1250

                                  1000

                                   750

                                  500

                                   250

                                        0
                                             Apr 2011 Oct 2011 Apr 2012 Apr 2013 Oct 2013 Apr 2014 Oct 2014 Apr 2015 Oct 2015 Apr 2016 Apr 2017

                                            Old Age (60-74)       Old Age (75+)           War Vets             Disability       Care Dependency         Foster Child

                                                                                                            Lower-Bound          Upper-Bound
                                              Child Support        Grant in Aid     Food Poverty Line        Poverty Line        Poverty Line

                                   Chart by Margaret Sagan and Dennis Webster, using poverty lines data provided by Stats SA and
                                   grant increases published in the Government Gazette and available on www.gov.za.
                                                   Relative Grant Allocations and Poverty Lines in Rands, 2011-2017
                                   The chart above shows the relationship between monthly social grant allocations and the poverty
                                   lines from 2011-2017. The official poverty lines are released in March and April, so the October
                                   poverty line amounts in this graph are only average values.

FOOTNOTES:
                                   69
                                        Thandiwe Matthew and Daniel McLaren. (2016). Budget Analysis for Advancing Socio-Economic Rights. P.

18 Working Paper 14
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